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Chandigarh: In a major crackdown on the multi-crore financial fraud involving government funds, the Haryana government has dismissed Amit Dewan, former Director of Finance at Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited (HPGCL), for his alleged role in a Rs 590-crore scam linked to illegal bank accounts and fraudulent transactions.

Dewan is the fourth senior official to be dismissed in the case, signalling an aggressive administrative response to what is emerging as one of the state’s most serious financial scandals.

Allegations: Illegal Accounts, Rs 50 Lakh Bribe, Forged Transactions

According to the dismissal order, Dewan allegedly colluded with the mastermind of the scam to open bank accounts with IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank, bypassing mandatory financial norms.

He is accused of:

• Facilitating the opening of an account—‘HPGCL Dry Fly Ash Fund’—without inviting quotations from empanelled banks
• Approving transactions despite the bank not being empanelled at the time
• Accepting ₹50 lakh as illegal gratification, corroborated by call records and witness statements
• Overseeing accounts where fraudulent transactions began in March 2025, including unauthorised fund movements

Investigators also flagged that a fixed deposit receipt linked to the account was forged, and that several transactions were carried out without the Energy Department’s approval.

Wider Conspiracy: Multiple Departments, Layered Fraud

The case points to a systemic conspiracy involving multiple government departments and banking channels. The State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau revealed that accounts were deliberately created to siphon off public funds into shell entities.

The alleged mastermind, a bank official, is said to have orchestrated the scheme across institutions, with officials like Dewan playing a facilitating role.

Earlier dismissals include:

• Rajesh Sangwan (₹10 crore fraud)
• Naresh Kumar (₹6.55 crore + assets)
• Randhir Singh (₹54 crore fraud)

Together, these cases highlight a deep-rooted network of financial manipulation within state-linked institutions.

No Departmental Probe: Govt Cites Risk to CBI Investigation

Notably, Dewan was dismissed without a departmental inquiry. The government invoked special provisions, stating that a parallel inquiry could interfere with the ongoing investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Officials argued that such proceedings might lead to premature disclosure of evidence or allow accused persons to coordinate their defence, thereby compromising the probe.

With both the State Vigilance Bureau and the CBI investigating the case, further arrests and administrative actions are likely. The scam—spanning fraudulent banking operations, forged financial instruments, and unauthorised fund transfers—has raised serious concerns about financial governance, oversight failures, and institutional accountability in Haryana.

The dismissal of multiple senior officials suggests the government is attempting to send a strong message, but the scale of the fraud indicates that the full extent of the network may still be unfolding.